Extension of Effective Date For Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) FSIS Notices

FSIS is extending the expiration date for FSIS Notice 58-05 and 68-05 until October 1, 2007.  - Posted 9/29/06 by AHB

Turnabout Time: U.S. Beef Processors Say No To Korea

U.S. beef processors are still reluctant to commit to sending beef to South Korea, once the second-largest export market for U.S. beef, over fears the country may reject or even destroy tons of product if small bone fragments are found.  - Posted 9/29/06 by AHB

Japan's New Farm Minister Won't Ease U.S Beef Regs

New Japanese Agriculture Minister Toshikatsu Matsuoka told reporters that, like his predecessor, he has no intention of relaxing Japan's 20-month import rule on U.S. beef - at least not for the foreseeable future. - Posted 9/29/06 by AHB

Meat Grading & Certification Fees Increase

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced this week it will increase fees for meat grading and certification services. - Posted 9/28/06 by AHB

Indiana May Drop State Inspection

State officials in Indiana are considering turning over the state's meat and poultry inspection program to the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), which would save the state approximately $1.8 million. - Posted 9/25/06 by AHB

National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection Meeting Scheduled

The NACMPI will meet on October 12-13, 2006 and will discuss using risk to direct in-plant inspection activities in processing assignments and using risk in slaughter options. - Posted 9/25/06 by AHB

FSIS Schedules Risk Based Inspection Public Meeting

The October 10-11, 2006, meeting agenda includes discussion and review of RBI principles, measuring product inherent risk for risk-based inspection and measuring establishment risk control for risk-based inspection, and how these risk measurements might be used to implement a Risk-Based Inspection System (RBIS). - Posted 9/25/06 by AHB

USDA Asks Court To Kick Out R-CALF Suit

USDA filed a motion with an appeals court requesting that the re-instituted lawsuit by Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund concerning the rule that reopened the border to live Canadian cattle be dismissed. - Posted 9/25/06 by AHB

"Call Congress Week" Established for Interstate Shipment Legislation Support

NASDA has designated the week of Monday, September 25th as "Call Congress Week" to support interstate meat sales legislation. - Posted 9/22/06 by AHB

Interstate Shipment Bill Introduced In The House

H.R. 6130, New Markets for State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Act of 2006, which remove the interstate shipment restricution for state-inspected meat and poultry, was recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. - Posted 9/22/06 by AHB

Updated FDA Statement on Foodborne E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak in Spinach

To date, 131 cases of illness due to E. coli infection have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - Posted 9/20/06 by AHB

FDA Warning on Serious Foodborne E.coli O157:H7 Outbreak

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing an alert to consumers about an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in multiple states that may be associated with the consumption of produce. - Posted 9/15/06 by AHB

Court Rules Against Montana Quality Foods

A Washington, D.C. District Court ruled that Montana Quality Foods and Processing, Montana based slaughter and processing facility, had not exhausted its administrative remedies in a dispute with USDA concerning ground beef that tested positive for E. coli, and threw the company's case out of court. - Posted 9/12/06 by AHB

Beef Checkoff Taskforce To Present Recommendations

The industry-wide Beef Checkoff Task Force has drafted four recommendations to enhance the Beef Checkoff program.  - Posted 9/12/06 by AHB

Congress Bans Horse Slaughter For Food

The U.S. House of Representatives voted Thursday to ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption, apparently ending a decades-long battle. - Posted 9/8/06 by AHB

Canada Launches Traceability Program

Canada's new government puts an integrated livestock and meat traceability program into service. - Posted 9/7/06 by AHB

South Korea Could Decide On U.S. Beef Today

The South Korean government is set to meet today and may decide during that meeting whether or not to reopen its market to U.S. beef. - Posted 9/7/06 by AHB

Web Site To Pair Restaurant And Nutritional Info

The National Restaurant Association has constructed a new site that allows users to search for restaurants and their menus' nutritional information by location, cuisine and price range, among other criteria. - Posted 9/6/06 by AHB

FSIS Announces Additional Regulatory Education Sessions For Small And Very Small Plants

The Agency announced that regulatory education sessions will be held in Pocatello, ID on September 8th and Boise, ID on September 9th.  - Posted 9/5/06 by AHB